Rangers confirm Kinsler to start on DL

Blanco expected to be starting second baseman for opener

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- As expected, Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler will start the season on the disabled list, general manager Jon Daniels confirmed Thursday.

"We haven't made the roster move yet, but the plan is for him to open on the DL," Daniels said.

On Wednesday, Kinsler, who has has been sidelined since March 12 with a sprained right ankle, said he was headed to the disabled list. He has not started running or doing agility drills and he has played in just five games in the Cactus League.

Andres Blanco is expected to be the Rangers' starting second baseman. Kinsler can be retroactively placed on the disabled list as far back as March 19.

Rangers acquire Garko via waiver claim

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The Rangers acquired Ryan Garko on a waiver claim from Seattle on Thursday and now have a full 40-man roster, a figure which does not include protected players Omar Beltre and Alexi Ogando.

The team also optioned catcher Max Ramirez to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

"He gives us a veteran presence and gives us a right-handed bat against left-handers," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "He can handle first base and emergency catcher. We're happy to have him. When he was in Cleveland, he played third base, too, but we have that covered."

Garko, who signed a one-year, $550,000 contract with Seattle on Feb. 1, combined to hit .268 with 13 home runs and 51 RBIs in 118 games with the Indians and Giants last season. He appeared in 15 games for Seattle this spring, batting .220 with a home run, two doubles and four RBIs.

"I'm just here to help any way I can and be a part of the club," Garko said. "Hopefully we can win a lot of games, and hopefully when I'm in there, I have good at-bats and kind of continue to do some of the things up to this point in my career."

Primarily a first baseman, Garko has a career batting average of .279 in the Major Leagues and spent his entire professional career in the Cleveland organization before a trade to San Francisco on July 27, 2009.

"He has a track record in this role," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said. "When he became available, we thought it was worth looking into."

Garko, 29, also played 12 games in the outfield for Cleveland in 2009. He was originally selected by Cleveland in the third round of the 2003 First-Year Player Draft.

Francisco hopes to remain with Rangers

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Frank Francisco's short-term goal is to post zeroes on the scoreboard in the ninth inning. The closer's long-term goal is to remain with the Rangers.

Francisco, 30, is a free agent at the end of the season.

"I would love to stay here because this group of guys is outstanding," Francisco said. "Everybody here wants to win and works hard for that. We deserve to win. We want it bad. I want to be a part of the winning here."

Francisco is 11-11 with a 3.75 ERA and 30 saves in 43 opportunities in five big league seasons with Texas. Francisco, who was acquired by the Rangers in 2003 as part of a deal that sent Carl Everett to the White Sox, made his Major League debut with the Rangers in '04.

The Rangers said it's premature to discuss Francisco's contract situation.

"It's something we are going to evaluate as the season progresses," Rangers assistant general manager Thad Levine said. "I think we have a very good relationship with Frankie and his agent, and if there is an opportunity for a discussion, I think both parties would be open to it, so we are going to see how it plays out."

Francisco converted 25 of 29 save chances last season and struck out 57 batters in 49 1/3 innings. Opponents hit only .214 against him, but he also battled the injury bug. The closer missed 44 games because of three stints to the disabled list for right biceps tendinitis (May 7-21), right shoulder tendinitis (June 4-19) and pneumonia (July 11-Aug. 1).

In the event of an injury to Francisco, the Rangers are covered. Darren Oliver and Neftali Feliz can take over the ninth-inning job. The organization also has pitching prospects Alexi Ogando, Tanner Scheppers and Pedro Strop in the Minor Leagues.

Rangers to open new club Hall of Fame

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The Texas Rangers will open the club's new Rangers Hall of Fame with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 3 p.m. CT on Friday.

The event, which will feature Rangers Hall of Famers Nolan Ryan, Jim Sundberg, and Rusty Greer, will take place at the Ballpark entrance to the new Hall of Fame, located behind the Lower Home Run Porch in right field.

The Hall of Fame is located on the first and second floors in what was formerly the Legends of the Game Baseball Museum. The exhibit includes the plaques, artifacts and photos of the 12 members of the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame. These plaques were formerly located in the arches of the lower concourse of Rangers Ballpark. The Hall of Fame also contains other Rangers information and exhibits.

The Hall of Fame, a 13,000 square foot facility, will be open free of charge to ticketed fans during Rangers home games. It will also be used for hospitality and other events.

Rangers complete trade to keep Snyder

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The Rangers completed a trade with the Giants to retain left-handed pitcher Ben Snyder by sending left-handed pitcher Edwin Escobar to San Francisco, the club announced Thursday.

Snyder had been selected from the Giants by Baltimore in the Major League Rule 5 Draft on December 10, 2009, and was immediately traded to Texas as the player to be named later in the Kevin Millwood-Chris Ray trade of the previous day.

Snyder did not make the Rangers' Opening Day Major League roster and thus had to be offered back to the Giants organization for $25,000. Thursday's trade allows Texas to retain Snyder, who has been assigned outright to Double-A Frisco.

Snyder posted a 9.00 ERA in seven innings in six "A" appearances with the Rangers this spring. He has a career record of 33-19 with a 2.98 ERA in four seasons in the Giants organization.

Escobar went 2-5 with 5.00 ERA in 13 games/12 starts with the Arizona League Rangers in 2009. He is in his second pro season

Jesse Sanchez is a national reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.